Personal property detector helps you find your lost goodies

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13 February 2002 News

A French company, Dipo S.A., has devised a gadget that can help forgetful people to find their lost property. The personal object-loss-detector called 'Dipo', (derived from its name in French), is a personal detector that can detect electronic chips, or tags, inserted in mobile phones, keys, credit cards or any other personal object, within a perimeter of three to five metres.

The Dipo consists of two elements, the detector and tiny battery-powered radio-signal-emitting tags. The detector emits an alarm signal when one of the tags strays out of range. The manufacturer says that the central unit detector itself can be incorporated in existing devices, such as mobile phones or watches. Tags can also be incorporated in an object to be protected, such as a bankcard, keys, or wallet, or can be fixed to objects requiring temporary protection. Users can activate or deactivate tags from the central unit, depending on the objects they want to protect. The transmitter then periodocally checks that the activated tags are still within a defined area. The detector reacts with an audible, visual or vibrating alarm, or can launch an action when the tag leaves the area.

In its mass-market version, the Dipo is enclosed in a small 80 g portable case. In detect mode, Dipo can find one's passport or any other selected tagged object in the clutter of one's house, even months after it has been missing. To prevent fraudulent use, Dipo could even be used to turn off a lost cellphone.

Dipo S.A. hopes to enter into partnership agreements in areas where applications could acquire a "Dipo Inside" label, and is currently developing for the fields of luxury goods, tools, medical applications and watchmaking.

Dipo S.A. is seeking industrial partners and distributors.

For further information see www.dipo.fr

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Personal property detector helps you find your lost goodies

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